Cooks and Books

While on the Liberace Couch, I have been the recipient of incredible generosity by Seattle's most accomplished cooks. One afternoon, several dinners arrived with accompanying graphics. Although you can see what we had for dessert, I chose not to post the graphics for the lamb meatballs or the lemon garlic chicken, in consideration of the vegetarians in our audience. It was all delicious. Many thanks to my kitchen angels who are keeping our household well fed and running smoothly.

I recently read "Open" by Andre Agassi, the first book in along time that was not read primarily on an airplane. Yes, it is all here; tennis, hair weaving, tennis, Brooke Shields, tennis, taking drugs, tennis, tennis, tennis, and eventually Steffi Graf and redemption. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about tennis, and can tolerate the occasional people magazine. Andre Agassi, the man-child, plays many tennis greats; Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, Boris Becker, Pete Sampras, Michael Chang and Pete Sampras. You get the idea, or maybe you remember, like I do.

I also chose it in part because Agassi was assisted in the writing by J.R. Moehringer, author of "The Tender Bar", his own heartbreaking memoir. Moehringer is a wonderful author and writer who helped Agassi tell his story in his own voice. In the end, revealing in the the self accepting individual previously obscured by the insecure youth.

Technology Note - First Blog with text interspersed with photos, in addition, I am now the Master of the remote control. You can see I haven't been wasting my time.

Medical Update - The Long View

I am apparently not a prolific blogger as it has been several days since my last update. I attribute this to my being busy resting, visiting with friends and a general lack of follow through. In addition, although writing a blog is not a huge technological undertaking, I have already accidentally erased several entries prior to posting them. I'm bound to improve.

Here is an update on the treatment I have been told I will be having after I recover from my surgery.

Chemotherapy: I will have 4 chemotherapy treatments, each 3 weeks apart. This will take 12 weeks (3 months). This will be followed by 12 additional chemotherapy treatments, once a week for 3 months, for a total of 6 months of chemotherapy. If I were a Math Major I probably could have explained that better, like a story problem. I am told that the weekly chemotherapy is usually easier to tolerate and can be fairly compatible with normal life. I hope they are right.

Radiation Therapy: Happily, at this moment, I don't expect to have any.

You can see it will not be business as usual for me anytime soon. However, I will have plenty of time to post every ridiculous idea I have ever had on this Blog.

I do want to point out that this is not a Blog about Cancer. I have learned almost nothing about the subject since my diagnosis. I have conducted not one web search about Breast Cancer and not read any books on the subject. I don't expect to become an expert. All those activities are time consuming and time is the one thing I resent giving to Cancer, the one thing I won't get back.

You can be confident I am working my way through treatment, having good days and bad, following the arc of my treatment plan and my Dr's instructions. For the studious ones, I will try to post the link to the JAMA article with details about about my specific chemotherapy protocol. To be clear, it is not an article about me, but rather the article on which my treatment is based, DOH!

In the meantime, you will know where to find me, on my beautiful couch.

It's hard to find good help

I haven't found the staff on the Liberace Couch to be as efficient as the staff as Espresso Supply. Here you can see my new co-workers reviewing recent medical journals, reading the mail, and enjoying their Federally mandated break on the Liberace Couch.

Little buds insist, Spring is coming soon.

Spring comes early to the Liberace Couch.

With much of the country under a blanket of snow, I thought I'd share the springtime atmosphere on the Liberace Couch. The days are getting noticeably longer and I am enjoying the beautiful arrangements. Many thanks for my cheery decor.

I will admit I have not watched much television in recent years. I thought it would be like riding a bike, a skill you could always count on.

While I still have a demonstrated ability to sit in a semi-vegetative state for hours, it is my ability to operate the TV without assistance which is in question.

If there is one thing worse than laying on the Liberace Couch watching TV, it is laying on the Liberace Couch unable to watch TV and wishing you could unlock the secrets of the remote control. The path to all video entertainment runs through the remote.

Good Grief! How has this become so incredibly complicated?
I might just go back to reading.....with my new reading glasses.

Comedy Central

Passing the time with comedians.

Home from the Spa-ospital

Home from the spa-ospital. Room 307 was comfortable with many charming attendants, not the least of which was my new friend, who wheeled me out.

News from room 307 SW

Just got off the phone with Laura. She's planning on leaving the hospital shortly. She sounds great, Dave said she looks great! - Tracie

Out of Surgery

Dave called just a bit ago, and said Laura is out of surgery. He'll be able to see her once they bring her up to her room. Will let you know more as we find out! - Tracie

Too Ridiculous

This couch is ridiculous and I that is why I like it.

It is a 30 year old, blue velvet couch in pristine condition, the result of a life lived under plastic. I purchased it hoping for some MadMen ambiance, only to discover it's true style was closer to Liberace.

I have been diagnosed with breast cancer and have decided to make this ridiculous couch my headquarters for the duration. Tomorrow, February 2nd, I will have surgery, with the presumption of radiation and chemo therapy to follow.

I am sure you have many questions; "Why would you ever buy a couch like this? How do you know it's 30 years old? Are you insane?" All in good time.

In the meantime, the Liberace Couch waits in my living room, for me to return and take up residence. From it's tufted comfort, I will keep you updated on all matters serious, mundane, and most importantly, ridiculous.